Neo Classical Age in English Literature || Literary Forms || Writers & Works

Summary

The Neo-Classical Age in English Literature, from the late 17th to mid-18th century, emphasized reason and order, influenced by classical authors and Enlightenment thinkers. Notable forms include the heroic couplet, satire, Comedy of Manners, Restoration Drama, and the novel. Key figures like Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, and Samuel Johnson contributed significantly, with works characterized by clarity, simplicity, and elegance.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Neo-Classical Age in English Literature lasted from the late 17th to the mid-18th century, characterized by a revival of classical Greek and Roman literature.
• 💡 Also known as the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment, it emphasized reason, rationality, and order.
• 📜 Writers were influenced by classical authors like Horace, Virgil, and Homer, and Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Isaac Newton.
• 📝 Heroic Couplet was a popular rhyming pair of lines in iambic pentameter used by poets like Alexander Pope.
• 😄 Satire was used to criticize human follies and vices, with works like Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' exemplifying this form.
• 🎩 Comedy of Manners focused on the social behavior of the upper class, using witty dialogue to expose hypocrisy.
• 🎭 Restoration Drama emerged post-1660, marked by explicit humor, witty dialogue, and complex plots.
• 📚 The novel became a popular form, exploring social and moral issues with realistic characters and settings.
• 🖋 Literary Criticism gained importance, with figures like John Dryden and Samuel Johnson setting literary standards.
• 📑 Notable writers included John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, Jonathan Swift, William Congreve, Samuel Richardson, and Henry Fielding.
• 🌟 The literature of this period was marked by clarity, simplicity, and elegance, and continues to influence and be studied today.

Q & A

What is the Neo-Classical Age in English Literature?

The Neo-Classical Age in English Literature spanned from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and was marked by a revival of interest in the classical literature of ancient Greece and Rome.

What are some alternative names for the Neo-Classical Age?

The period is also known as the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment, or the Augustan Age.

Which ancient authors influenced writers during the Neo-Classical Age?

Writers of the Neo-Classical Age were influenced by classical authors such as Horace, Virgil, and Homer.

What was the impact of Enlightenment thinkers on Neo-Classical literature?

Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Isaac Newton influenced writers with their emphasis on reason, rationality, and order.

What is a Heroic Couplet and which famous writer used it?

A Heroic Couplet is a rhyming pair of lines in iambic pentameter, used in epic poetry and satires. Alexander Pope is the most famous writer of heroic couplets.

How was satire used during the Neo-Classical Period?

Satire was used to criticize social and political institutions and to mock human behavior through humor, irony, and exaggeration.

What is Comedy of Manners and which work is an example?

Comedy of Manners is a type of comedy focusing on the social behavior of the upper classes, with witty and sophisticated dialogue. 'The Way of the World' by William Congreve is an example.

What is Restoration Drama and how does it differ from Neo-Classical literature?

Restoration Drama emerged after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and was marked by explicit humor, witty dialogue, and complex plots, differing from the clarity, simplicity, and elegance of Neo-Classical literature.

How did the novel develop during the Neo-Classical Period?

The novel emerged as a popular literary form during the Neo-Classical Period, with writers using realistic characters and settings to explore social and moral issues.

Which writers were significant in the development of literary criticism during the Neo-Classical Age?

Writers such as John Dryden and Samuel Johnson wrote influential critical works that helped establish norms and standards of English literature.

Who are some of the most significant writers of the Neo-Classical Period and what are their notable works?

Significant writers include John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, Jonathan Swift, William Congreve, Samuel Richardson, and Henry Fielding, known for works such as 'All for Love', 'The Rape of the Lock', 'Dictionary of the English Language', 'Gulliver's Travels', 'The Way of the World', 'Pamela', and 'Tom Jones'.

How did the Neo-Classical literature influence the development of English literature?

The literature of the Neo-Classical Period had a significant impact on the development of English literature by emphasizing classical ideals, reason, and rationality.